Genetic identification and embryological observation of male sterile watermelon
In order to determine the sterility type and anther sterilization period of male sterile watermelon,the male sterile line GMS4 was used as the material to observe the sterility characters of flower buds in the field,and the development process of watermelon anther was observed by the paraffin section method.The results showed that the sterile material was controlled by a pair of recessive genes,which was the type of nuclear male sterility.The stamen of fertile plant was normal while that of sterile plant was small,with shripped auther and no pollen.There was no difference in pistil development between fertile strain and sterile plant,and both of them could bear fruit normally.In the early anther development,there was little difference in anther structure and morphology between fertile and sterile plants.In the meiotic phase of microspore mother cells,the abnormal tapetum cells proliferate excessively,were small in size,irregular in arrangement,squeezed drug chamber,and no dyad and tetrad were formed.No pollen grains were formed at the late anther development stage,which resulted in male sterility.It concluded that anther abortion occurred during the meiosis stage of microspore mother cells.
WatermelonNuclear male sterilityMeiosisTapetal layer